Shoe-form.



No. 662,807. Patented Nov. 27,1900.

W. L. C. NILES.

SHOE FORM (Application filed Jan. 15, 1900.

(No Model.)

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WALTER L. O. NILES, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE-FORM.

SPEiiIFIGA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,807. dated November 2'7, 1900.

Application filed January 15, 1900. Serial No. 1,432. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWALTER L. O. NILES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Forms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to forms for boots and shoes, and more particularly to such forms as are designed to act as followers or fillers to take the place of the usual last while the shoe is undergoing some of the processes of manufacture and also for the display of sample shoes by drummers or in shop-windows.

It is essential that a follower be light and strong and that it efiectually sustain the forward part of the shoe (the vamp and instep) in shape, while at the same time it must be so constructed as to be readily placed in and removed from a shoe without straining or distorting the upper.

To the above ends the present invention consists of the shoe-form, which will now be described and claimed.

The present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 illustrates a sectional side elevation of a shoe-form embodying the same and illustrating its operative position when in a shoe, the shoe being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 shows a top plan view of the form removed from the shoe.

Similar reference characters will be employed throughout the specification and draw ings to designate corresponding parts.

The form comprises a fore part 1, which, as shown, is preferably formed hollow and of some suitable light but strong material, such as leather-board or similar material. The fore part 1 is shaped to support the vamp and instep portion of the shoe 2, the forward portion of which it may accurately or only approximately fit. The fore part 1 when in the shoe is held and pressed forward by a brace rod 3, which is so constructed and connected with the fore part that it will exert a forward and upward pressure on the fore part when in the shoe, causing said fore part to give shape to and support the vamp and the instep portion of the upper of the shoe, and this whether the fore part accurately fits or is slightly smaller than the forward portion of the shoe. The brace-rod comprises two telescoping extensible members, which are extended by means of a spring to exert the forward and upward pressure on the fore part and which may be readily telescoped to shorten the bracerod when it is desired to insert the form into or remove it from a shoe. The brace-rod 3 of the illustrated embodiment of the present invention consists of a tubular section 8, in which is fitted to slide a plunger 9, projecting into the tubular section 8 and being connected at its reduced inner end 11 to a spring 10, which is located in the tubular section 8 and secured therein by means of a pin or rivet 12. The brace-rod 3 is pivotally connected to the fore part 1, so to swing up and down when inserting and removing the form, and the pivotal connection is located at a point above the horizontal medial line of the fore part or near the top of the fore part, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, whereby the pressure exerted on the fore part 1 will tend in a forward and upward direction, thus causing the fore part to fill out and shape the vamp and instep of the shoe 2, as will be clear from an inspection of the drawings.

A brace 5 is fastened at its opposite ends to-the sides of the fore part 1 and prevents the lateral compression of the form, and said brace is offset or bent rearwardly at its center, and through the projection formed by the offset passes the pintle 6, which also passes through the lugs or ears 7, projecting from the tubular member 8.

In inserting the form in a shoe the bracerod 3 will be turned upwardly and the fore part inserted in the shoe, whereby the plunger 9 of the brace-rod will be forced by the hand into the tubular member 8, and the brace-rod will then be turned downwardly to cause the end of the plunger to engage the counter 4: of the shoe near the insole, whereupon the rod will assume the inclined position shown and through the spring will exert a forward and upward pressure on the fore part.

It will be noted that the brace-rod constitutes a handle by means of which the fore part may .be readily manipulated and that While such rod performs all the functions of a heel-section, in so far as maintaining the fore part in the shoe is concerned, it has the advantage of being capable of being inserted in any shoe, whatever the dimensions of the shoe may be at the heel portion, the absence of any back-former greatly facilitating the use of the former.

Having described the construction and mode of operation of my invention, I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A shoe-form comprising a hollow fore part shaped to support a vamp and instep of a shoe, a brace-rod comprising sliding telescoping members, a lateral brace connected to the sides of the fore part at or near the top, and a brace-rod pivotally connected with said lateral brace, substantially as described.

2. A shoe-form comprising a hollow fore part shaped to support the vamp and instep of a shoe, a brace-rod comprising sliding spring telescoping members, a lateral brace connected to the sides of the fore part at or near the top, and a pintle pivotally connecting the brace-rod and brace, substantially as described.

3. A shoe-form comprising a hollow fore part shaped to support the Vamp and instep of a shoe, a lateral brace connecting the sides of the fore part near the top thereof, said brace having a rearwardly-extending projection, a brace-rod comprising a tubular member pivoted to the projection of the lateral brace, a plunger slidingly fitted in the tubular member, and a spring connecting said members, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER L. C. NILES.

Witnesses:

T. HART ANDERSON, A. E. WHITE. 

